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‘I believe RCB can win IPL 2025': Mohammad Kaif backs Rajat Patidar's men for maiden silverware

‘I believe RCB can win IPL 2025': Mohammad Kaif backs Rajat Patidar's men for maiden silverware

Mint15-05-2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 resuming on May 17. Rajat Patidar-led team is currently on a four-match winning streak and just one win away from sealing their Playoffs berth. While the franchise's fans are backing them to win their maiden title this year, former RCB and India player Mohammad Kaif has also shown his belief in the team.
Kaif praised the entire team and Rajat Patidar's captaincy. He also appreciated performances by batters, especially Virat Kohli, and the contribution that bowlers have made in this season.
RCB made it to the playoffs nine times in the history of the league. They reached three IPL finals in the years 2009, 2011, and 2016, but are yet to win their maiden trophy.
'If we talk about RCB as a team, they have been fantastic. I am emphasising the word 'team' because they have always been a batting-heavy team," Mohammad Kaif expressed.
"However, this time Rajat Patidar has done a fantastic job of using his bowlers, restricting opponents while defending 170-180. Kohli has continued doing what he does best… but the bowlers have given them the belief that they can win," Kaif hailed the captain and bowlers.
"The team with the best all-round side usually has the best chance, so I believe they can win it this year,' Kaif concluded as quoted by The Times of India.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are currently ranked second in the IPL 2025 Points Table. They have 16 points from 8 wins out of the 11 matches. Their NRR is +0.482.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have three matches remaining and they need to win just one game to seal their place in the top four with 18 points. They will be geared up to make it to the top two by winning two or more matches.
If RCB loses all three matches then their qualification will be dependent on the other team's result and NRR as they will remain with 16 points.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Bengaluru) - 17th May 2025 (Saturday)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Bengaluru) - 23rd May 2025 (Friday)
Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Lucknow) - 27th May 2025 (Tuesday)

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There are some teams, like everyone said, that South Africa qualified due to the fact that they played all the weaker teams. But that wasn't South Africa's problem. That was the ICC's problem. They came up with that. And, I believe, you need a two-tier structure. And that's got to come in very rapidly. The ICC chairman, he's got to sit down, otherwise, cricket's going to be at a loss. You need strong teams playing each other but they've also got to play the weaker teams. South Africa, the country of your birth, has finally won a world title. You must be a happy man? Yes, I was there (at Lord's). We had customers, clients there, and it was fantastic. I mean, South Africa are known as the chokers. If you have a look how many times they've blown it. Very proud of the way Aiden Markram batter under pressure. You had to move to England during Apartheid and till date South Africa remains a divided nation in the words of Proteas captain Temba Bavuma. While rugby has no strict quota system at the national level, the cricket team does. Your thoughts? Rugby seems to have got it right, but cricket hasn't got it right. The system has been overdone. It's now basically, you are only allowed a certain amount of white players playing (an average of six coloured players including two Africans over the course of a season). South Africa could be a stronger team if they pick players on merit (and not on quota). Those days of Apartheid are long gone. The coloureds, the Indians and the blacks and the whites, they've got to work properly together and say, 'hey, if that guy's good enough, he must play'. We must pick the best team we can have.

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